Criminal gangs are setting up “drug supermarkets” on the Spanish island of Majorca as police struggle to contain them, according to reports.
In the town of Palma, gangs have reportedly put up wired fencing, wooden panels, and building blocks to make it harder for police officers to move around the town.
It also prevents police from seeing drug operations going on between gangs.
The town hall in Palma vowed to take down the fortifications, sending out police and workers to carry out the task.
A local official said earlier this month: “The first thing we will do is check all the alterations made, verify that they have been carried out on public land, and demolish any illegal work.”
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But gangs continued to put up new fortifications even setting up checkpoints to look out for undercover police.
A gang member quoted by the Majorca Daily Bulletin said: “They can come as many times as they want. The more shanties they knock down, the more we will build.”
In March, 13 people were jailed after a drug operation was rumbled on the island.
Police uncovered a large network that smuggled cocaine from Colombia and distributed it in Mallorca as well as other parts of Spain.
A total of 1.3 tonnes of cocaine was seized as well as properties worth €8.8million.
Last year, residents of Majorca expressed their anger with the activity of drug gangs.
Speaking to Olive Press, one resident said: “When things get really heated is on weekends, starting from Friday.
“During the week, there’s always someone who’s drunk or high and ends up starting fights.
“Almost every day there are smells of weed and noise. We’re afraid to pass in front of this bar.
“It’s scary, they’re always in the middle of everything, and you don’t know how they’re going to react. We’ve been threatened.”